The great burden of Hebrews…is ‘bringing many sons into glory’ (Heb. 2:10).1Judgment Seat of Christ. Arlen L. Chitwood http://bibleone.net/JSC14.htm
“Whereas salvation is of grace, rewards are according to works.” [Note: Smith, A Revelation . . ., p. 302. Cf. Matthew 16:27; Luke 23:41; 1 Corinthians 3:8; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 11:15; 2 Timothy 4:14; Hebrews 2:2; Revelation 2:23; 11:18, 18:6; 20:12, 13.]2Notes on Hebrews 2022 Edition by Dr. Thomas L. Constable https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/hebrews/hebrews.htm
“God gives us His salvation, but He pays us for our good works.” [Note: Zane C. Hodges, ‘The Doctrine of Rewards, Part 1: Rewards and Grace,’ Grace Evangelical Society News 9:5 (September-October 1994):4.]3Notes on Hebrews 2022 Edition by Dr. Thomas L. Constable. https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/hebrews/hebrews.htm
“The readers’ entrance into this eschatological rest depends on their faithfulness in doing good works [my emphasis]. As metochoi (‘companions’) of Christ they must be diligent to receive eschatological reward (Heb. 4:11-13) at the judgment seat of Christ. Failure to persevere may result in temporal discipline (Heb. 12:4-11) along with the loss of future rewards and authority to rule with Jesus in the millennium.” 4Oberholtzer, 578:196 quoted in Notes on Hebrews 2022 Edition by Dr. Thomas L. Constable. https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/hebrews/hebrews.
“All five warnings in the epistle have a positive thrust and a negative impetus. . . . Disobedience to God and His Word will result in a forfeiting of eschatological rewards; obedience to God and His Word will result in a gaining of eschatological rewards.”5Oberholtzer, 146:75 quoted in Notes on Hebrews 2022 Edition by Dr. Thomas L. Constable https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/hebrews/hebrews.
“This passage [Hebrews 4:1] is not talking about living a peaceful life here and now either. That is not the rest that is in view. This should be clear from the context. Throughout this epistle the writer used the terms “rest” and “inheritance” as the Old Testament used them when speaking of what the Israelites in the wilderness anticipated. These terms refer to blessings that God’s people could anticipate in the next stage of their lives if they followed Him faithfully in the present stage of their lives. For the Israelites in the wilderness, this meant enjoying the peace and prosperity of the Promised Land to the full. For Christians, it means enjoying all the blessings that God has promised that faithful believers will experience in heaven.” Constable
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25). “This verse is not talking about eternal security but about remaining faithful to the Lord and as a result receiving our full reward.” Constable “In Hebrews ‘salvation’ is presented as a future eschatological inheritance (Heb. 1:14; 5:9; 9:28).” Lane, p. 189 quoted by Constable
“When the Lord returns at the Rapture, all Christians will enter into His presence, but only believers who have remained faithful to Him will enter into their full inheritance (cf. Heb. 1:14, 3:14, 9:15). “Those who eagerly await Him” (Heb. 9:28) evidently refers to faithful believers. [Note: Cf. Dillow, p. 129.] Specifically what will take place is that at the Rapture all believers will go to be with Christ. However only those who have not apostatized will receive a full reward at the judgment seat of Christ (1Cor. 3:14-15; cf. 1Thess. 5:9-10).” Constable
“What they had endured for Christ’s sake [in Hebrews 10:35-36] entitled them to a reward. Let them not throw it away. The NT does not reject the notion that Christians will receive rewards, though, of course, that is never the prime motive for service.” [Note: Morris, pp. 110-11.] Quoted by Constable
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Rev 3:21-22) “The Scriptures consistently present the Father’s throne as in heaven and Christ’s Davidic throne as on earth and His eternal throne as in heaven. Here Christ’s Davidic (messianic, millennial) throne on earth and the Father’s eternal throne in heaven seem to be in view.” Constable, Revelation 3:20-22
“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Mat 25:23
“Whereas salvation is of grace, rewards are according to works.” [Note: Smith, A Revelation . . ., p. 302. Cf. Matthew 16:27; Luke 23:41; 1 Corinthians 3:8; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 11:15; 2 Timothy 4:14; Hebrews 2:2; Revelation 2:23; 11:18, 18:6; 20:12, 13.]6Quoted by Notes on Hebrews 2022 Edition by Dr. Thomas L. Constable https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/hebrews/hebrews.htm
“Our faith determines our salvation; our faithfulness determines our rewards. And the secret – worshiping, walking, working, with our eyes on Jesus, so, let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking to Jesus the author and finisher our faith (Heb. 12:1, 2).”7Hebrews: Twenty-Six Simple Studies in God’s Plan for Victorious Living by M. R. DeHaan. Page 161. Book is available at https://www.librarything.com/work/1009702
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